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Avery 5309 is a large embossed tent card measuring 3-1/2 × 11 inches, with one card per sheet, according to Avery’s 5309 template page. The most reliable way to print it in Word is to download Avery’s dedicated Word template, edit that file, and preserve its layout rather than rebuilding the card with Word’s generic label tools.
For one card or identical cards, type directly into the downloaded template. For cards with different names, use Word’s mail merge while keeping the Avery layout. Before printing on card stock, test the file on ordinary US Letter paper.
What you need
- Avery 5309 cards
- Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019, or 2016 on Windows or Mac
- A printer that can feed the card stock through a reasonably straight paper path
- An Excel list or other data source if each card will contain different text
Avery’s 5309 template page offers a Microsoft Word (.doc) download and an online design option. This guide uses the downloaded Word template.
Download the Avery 5309 Word template
- Open Avery’s 5309 templates page.
- Select the Microsoft Word (.doc) download and save it somewhere easy to find.
- Open the downloaded file in Word. If Word displays a compatibility warning because the file is in the older .doc format, allow it to open, then use File > Save As to save a working copy as a Word document if needed.
- Keep the downloaded layout. A tent card has two physical faces after folding, and the Avery template is the authoritative source for the fold and orientation.
Print one card or identical cards
For one card—or several cards with the same wording—the simplest workflow is to edit the blank template directly.
#1 Best Overall
- Add an elegant touch to product displays, name cards, branding, food table cards, wedding place cards, and more with custom tent cards featuring a stylish embossed border
- Enjoy a clean, professional finish from DIY place card sheets that feature a micro-perforated design for easy separation and smooth border, are pre-scored for quick and even folding
- Ensure a stable and reliable set up with place cards and table cards made from sturdy 65 lbs / 176 gsm embossed white cardstock that keeps cards standing tall
- Easily create two-sided personalized cards using Avery Design & Print Online and the available tools and customizable place card templates, and print right from your laser or inkjet printer
- Avery tent cards are perfect for both professional and personal events, including conferences, trade shows, sales meetings, weddings, dinner parties, galas, and more
- Click in the template’s text area and enter the name, title, table number, or other wording.
- Adjust the font, size, alignment, and spacing. Keep important text away from the fold and outer edges.
- Select File > Print.
- In the printer settings, choose US Letter paper and set scaling to 100% or Actual Size. Print a test page on plain paper.
- Hold the test sheet behind an Avery card or fold it as the finished card will be folded. Check that the text is positioned and oriented correctly.
- Load the Avery card in the same direction as the successful test and print it.
Do not select Fit to Page or another automatic scaling option. Avery recommends 100% or Actual Size to preserve the template dimensions.
Use mail merge for different names
Mail merge is useful when each card needs a different name or title. Prepare the data before opening the merge tools.
1. Prepare the Excel list
Put field names in the first row and one person or card record on each subsequent row. For example:
| Name | JobTitle | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Lee | Project Manager | Northwind |
| Casey Patel | Director | Contoso |
Use clear column headings such as Name and JobTitle. Check spelling, blank rows, number formats, and consistent formatting before starting. Word uses the data source’s column headings as merge fields.
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2. Start the merge without replacing the Avery layout
- Open the downloaded Avery 5309 Word template.
- Select Mailings > Start Mail Merge > Labels.
- When Word opens the label-selection window, select Cancel. The template already contains the product layout, and choosing another product could replace it.
- Select Mailings > Select Recipients > Use an Existing List.
- Choose the Excel workbook or other data source.
- If Word asks which worksheet to use, select the sheet containing the records and confirm that the first row contains column headings.
The Avery Wizard is retired; it is not simply hidden in current versions of Word.
Rank #2
- Add an elegant touch to product displays, table cards, trade shows, name cards, branding, and more with custom tent cards featuring a stylish embossed border
- Enjoy a clean, professional finish from DIY place card sheets that feature a micro-perforated design for easy separation and smooth border, are pre-scored for quick and even folding
- Ensure a stable and reliable set up with place cards and table cards made from sturdy 65 lbs / 176 gsm embossed white cardstock that keeps cards standing tall
- Get a more reliable feed through your printer with printable cardstock featuring proprietary Sure Feed technology designed to reduce misalignments and printer jams
- Easily create two-sided personalized cards using Avery Design & Print Online and the available tools and customizable place card templates, and print right from your desktop
3. Insert and format the merge fields
- Click where the name should appear on the first card.
- Select Mailings > Insert Merge Field, then choose the required column, such as Name.
- Insert additional fields as needed. Add spaces, punctuation, and line breaks around them.
- Format the first card’s text, including its font, size, alignment, and paragraph spacing.
- Select Mailings > Update Labels to copy the first-card setup through the merge layout.
If Insert Merge Field is unavailable, connect a recipient list through Mailings > Select Recipients, or select Type a New List to create one in Word.
If the template’s table boundaries are difficult to see, click inside the layout and choose Table Layout > View Gridlines. Gridlines help you edit the structure but do not print.
4. Preview the cards
- Select Mailings > Preview Results.
- Use the record navigation arrows on the Mailings tab to inspect several names, not just the first record.
- Look for long names, missing fields, unwanted blank lines, and text that runs beyond the card area.
- If you change a field or its formatting, select Mailings > Update Labels again before previewing.
Check both physical faces in the downloaded template. General mail-merge instructions do not guarantee that Update Labels will automatically create correctly rotated, duplicated text on both faces of every 5309 file. If the template has separate areas for the two faces, verify and format those areas rather than assuming the merge has handled the fold.
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5. Finish the merge
To make an editable merged file before printing:
- Select Mailings > Finish & Merge > Edit Individual Documents.
- In the Merge to New Document dialog, leave All selected and select OK.
- Review the new document, save it, and select File > Print.
To send the cards directly to the printer, select Mailings > Finish & Merge > Print Documents. If you already created a merged document, select File > Print from that document.
Use Word’s built-in Avery search instead
Word has a separate built-in template route:
- Select File > New.
- Search for Avery.
- Choose an Avery-compatible template if a suitable one appears.
This search does not necessarily include Avery 5309. For the exact 5309 layout, download the Word file from Avery’s template page. Word’s standard label-product list may also vary by installation. If you are creating a layout manually and the required product is missing, Microsoft’s fallback is Mailings > Labels > Options > New Label, where you enter the label dimensions, name the custom product, and select OK. For a folded tent card, the dedicated Avery template is preferable because a generic label layout can lose the fold or orientation.
Rank #3
- Make an impression with customizable table tent cards great for product displays, trade shows, meetings, events, branding, and more
- Enjoy a clean, professional finish from DIY place card sheets that feature a micro-perforated design for easy separation and smooth border, are pre-scored for quick folding, and remain upright once set up
- Print beautiful, double-sided place cards and table cards made from high-quality 65 lbs / 176 gsm textured ivory cardstock, featuring Print-to-the-Edge with full-bleed capability, allowing designs to print to the edge of the card
- Get a more reliable feed through your printer with printable cardstock featuring proprietary Sure Feed technology designed to help reduce misalignments and printer jams
- Easily create personalized cards using Avery Design & Print Online and the available tools and customizable place card templates, and print right from your laser or inkjet printer
Printer settings for accurate Avery 5309 cards
Avery recommends these settings as starting points; the exact options depend on your printer.
| Setting | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| Paper size | US Letter, 8.5 × 11 inches |
| Scaling | 100% or Actual Size |
| Media type | Labels, Heavyweight, Cardstock, or Photo, depending on the printer |
| Quality | Best or High |
| Feed path | Manual feed or the straightest available tray |
Some print dialogs hide scaling under More Settings, Preferences, or Properties. For PDF printing, choose Print Using System Dialog if the simplified dialog does not show the required controls.
Use the manual-feed tray where possible, do not overfill the tray, and gently snug the paper guides against the card. If sheets feed together, fan them and feed one at a time. Dirty trays, paper fibers, and residue on the guides can also cause skewing or double-feeding; clean the tray and guides before trying again. If alignment problems persist, check the printer manufacturer’s support site for driver or firmware updates.
Fix common printing problems
The card prints too small or too large
Return to the print dialog and disable Fit, Shrink, or automatic scaling. Select 100% or Actual Size and confirm that the page size is US Letter.
The design is too high, too low, or shifted sideways
First test with plain paper and confirm that the printer is feeding the sheet squarely. If the printer is consistently offset, select View > Ruler in Word and make a small margin adjustment. Print another test page before changing the Avery cards.
Rank #4
- Make an impression with customizable table tent cards great for product displays, trade shows, meetings, events, branding, and more
- Enjoy a clean, professional finish from DIY place card sheets that feature a micro-perforated design for easy separation and smooth border, are pre-scored for quick folding, and remain upright once set up
- Print beautiful, double-sided place cards and table cards made from high-quality 65 lbs / 176 gsm textured ivory cardstock, featuring Print-to-the-Edge with full-bleed capability, allowing designs to print to the edge of the card
- Get a more reliable feed through your printer with printable cardstock featuring proprietary Sure Feed technology designed to reduce misalignments and printer jams
- Easily create two-sided personalized cards using Avery Design & Print Online and the available tools and customizable place card templates, and print right from your laser or inkjet printer
Only the first merged card contains a name
Format the first card, then select Mailings > Update Labels. Preview the results afterward. Inserting fields into the first card alone does not complete the layout for the remaining records.
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Select Mailings > Preview Results. If the fields still do not show data, confirm that a recipient list is connected through Mailings > Select Recipients.
The folded card has upside-down or missing text
Do not replace the downloaded Avery layout with a generic label grid. Inspect the template’s separate faces and test-fold a plain-paper print. The exact duplication and rotation behavior depends on the downloaded template’s construction; Word’s general merge commands are not an automatic tent-card orientation tool.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Final pre-print checklist
- The file is the Avery 5309 Word template.
- The page size is US Letter, 8.5 × 11 inches.
- Print scaling is 100% or Actual Size.
- The first merged card was copied with Update Labels.
- Several records were checked with Preview Results.
- A plain-paper test was folded and checked on both faces.
- The printer is set for the card stock and loaded in the correct direction.
FAQ
What size is Avery 5309?
Avery lists 5309 as a large embossed tent card measuring 3-1/2 × 11 inches, with one card per sheet. See Avery’s 5309 template page.
Does Word include an Avery 5309 option?
Not necessarily. Word’s available Avery products vary by installation. For the exact product, download the Microsoft Word template from Avery’s 5309 page rather than relying on Word’s generic label list.
Best Value
- Add an elegant touch to product displays, name cards, branding, food table cards, wedding place cards, and more with custom tent cards featuring a stylish embossed border
- Enjoy a clean, professional finish from DIY place card sheets that feature a micro-perforated design for easy separation and smooth border, are pre-scored for quick and even folding
- Ensure a stable and reliable set up with place cards and table cards made from sturdy 65 lbs / 176 gsm embossed ivory cardstock that keeps cards standing tall
- Easily create two-sided personalized cards using Avery Design & Print Online and the available tools and customizable place card templates, and print right from your laser or inkjet printer
- Avery tent cards are perfect for both professional and personal events, including conferences, trade shows, sales meetings, weddings, dinner parties, galas, and more
Can I mail merge Avery 5309 cards from Excel?
Yes. Open the downloaded 5309 Word template, choose Mailings > Start Mail Merge > Labels, select Cancel in the label-selection window, connect the Excel list through Select Recipients, insert the fields, and choose Update Labels before previewing.
Why should I select Cancel in Word’s label-selection dialog?
The downloaded Avery template already contains the product layout. Selecting another product can replace that layout and may remove the intended tent-card fold or orientation.
Why are my Avery cards misaligned when printed?
Check that the page is US Letter and that scaling is 100% or Actual Size. Also check the printer’s media type, paper feed, guides, and driver. Print a plain-paper test before using the cards.
Is the Avery Wizard still available in Word?
No. Microsoft has retired the Avery Wizard. Use Avery’s downloaded Word template, Word’s File > New template search, or Mailings > Labels > Options instead.
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Download Avery’s dedicated 5309 Word template, edit that layout, and print at 100% on US Letter paper. For personalized cards, connect the recipient list through Word’s Mailings tab, insert and format fields in the first card, select Update Labels, preview several records, and test-fold a plain-paper copy before loading the Avery stock.
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